Two Seas

Chapter Five

Terra bit the inside of her cheek lightly. Who did this guy think he was? Taking her without question and not answering her when she demanded an explanation? This was clearly some surreal dream that she would wake up from and she would be back at Debra's house. As she tromped through the forest, she could feel her brave facade slowly slip away. The forest around her was completely unrecognizable and strangely dense. This wasn't the same kind of place she'd seen in Florida. In fact, this wasn't like it at all. Chirps and other strange animal like noises added to the cacophony of the trees, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. 

This is so weird, she thought, clenching her fists at her sides as she glanced around. Since when did Florida inhabit all these animals near the city?

As much as she wanted to deny it, Terra knew that she was in an unfamiliar place with no reasonable explanation of why she was there. Memories of the strange storm that had rose and the voices of her friends echoed in her head. Was it all just a dream that she was in, or was she really in some mystic land? 

Terra wanted to go back to the pirates and ask them who they were and where she was, but she was already so far into the jungle and so fed up with them she decided not to.

"Oi, missy!"

Terra suddenly shrieked as her head whipped around. Two of the pirates were pushing past a tangle of vines as they approached her, one bald and chubby while the other was darker skinned with a thick black beard. Both of them bore swords. 

"Uh...?" suddenly knots formed in Terra's stomach. Why are they here?

"We are makin' sure ya don't get hurt. Captain's  orders," the chubby one spoke, brushing his hands on his already dirty shirt. 

Terra's nose crinkled. "Um...no thanks. Bye."

She turned on her heel, heading forward until she heard their retort. "No miss'um! If somethin' were to happen to ya' ole Sea Lion will be very angry!"

Terra scoffed. "As if I care!"

"Missy the jungle is dangerous! There are strange beasts here!"

She frowned slightly, a small, creeping fear followed suit. "What-what kind of beasts?"

Both sea-men glanced at each other, as if exchanging a word. 

"Miss'um, tis best if we go now," the dark skinned one replied, holding tightly to the sword at his hip.

"No! I'm not going anywhere! Now you tell me what this place is! I need to find my way back!" Terra fumed, placing her hands on her hips. Both men flinched involuntarily as they backed away slowly. 

The dark skinned one sighed heavily. "You're in the forests of Cielo near Alicante in the great land of España,"

Terra raised an eyebrow, "Espan-what?"

"España, Spain."

Terra's lips formed an "O" shape while inhaling sharply. "I'm in Spain?"

"Aye," the pale one replied, glancing around nervously. "We should be goin', the beasts will smell us."

"Ok what 'beasts' are here? Huh? Some monkeys? Maybe a toucan or two?"

Both men frowned at her wording. "What's-"

Before the dark skinned one could finish his question, the trio heard a strange, low growl to their left. All three heads snapped towards the sound while the two men withdrew their swords, pointing towards the thick foliage.

"Um...what-"

Another growl emitted and in a split second, Terra jumped and started to make a sprint towards the beach.